title: Does the use of a barbed polyglyconate absorbable suture have an impact on urethral anastomosis time, urethral stenosis rates, and cost effectiveness during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of a single needle driver with the V-Loc (Covidien, Dublin, Ireland) running suture and compare this with the use of 2 needle drivers with polyglactin interrupted sutures (IS) in dividing the dorsal venous complex (DVC) and forming the urethrovesical anastomosis (UVA) during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort study was performed to compare V-Loc (n = 40) with polyglactin (n = 40) sutures. Division of the dorsal venous complex and formation of the UVA during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy using V-Loc or polyglactin sutures were studied. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative parameters were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  V-Loc sutures were associated with a statistically significant reduction in mean dorsal vein suture time (3.15 minutes V-Loc vs 3.75 minutes IS, P = .02) and UVA anastomosis time (8.5 minutes V-Loc vs 11.5 minutes IS, P = .001). No significant difference was noted between operative time (121 minutes V-Loc vs 130 minutes IS, P = .199), delayed healing rates (5% V-Loc vs 7.5% IS, P = .238), continence rate at 12 months (97.5% V-Loc vs 95% IS, P = .368), and urethral stenosis rates (2.5% V-Loc vs 2.5% IS, P = .347) in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a V-Loc running suture with a single needle driver is a feasible, reproducible, and economic technique with no significant difference in continence rates and urethral stenosis rates, compared with the use of a traditional interrupted suture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Hôpital Saint Joseph, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Massoud
authors.forename: Ruban
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thanigasalam
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Hajj
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.forename: Pierre Etienne
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Théveniaud
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chatellier
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baumert
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D011108:Polymers; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D012371:Robotics; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013537:Sutures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery*; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000209:etiology; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000601:surgery*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D014680:Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; C046409:polyglyconate